Lit-up 63ft tower by M6 is allowed

A 63ft brightly-lit tower with two large advertising hoardings will be erected alongside the M6 in the Black Country – after planners disagreed it would distract drivers.

Despite objections from the Highways Agency, Walsall's development control committee voted for the illuminated tower with two 60ft by 15ft adverts to stand on the Gallagher Retail Park, in Axletree Way, close to Junction 9 of the motorway.

It is the latest plan for hoardings alongside the carriageway in Wednesbury, and comes just weeks after a controversial scheme for a 279ft by 82ft sign known as the Sandwell Gateway, was dropped after a campaign by residents worried about the view from their homes.

But at last night's meeting most members backed the views of Councillor Barbara McCracken, of St Matthew's ward, who said the sign should be allowed against the wishes of the agency.

Council McCracken said: "I don't think we should be wet nursing motorists. People should be responsible for themselves.

"We are not in the business of being a nanny state trying to protect people from their own actions. We should be so lucky to get an accident along that section of motorway because the traffic is nose to tail anyway. It is just a sign."

Committee chairman Councillor Melvin Pitt told the members the Highways Agency had serious concerns about the scheme to replace an advert on the same land.

"It is a busy part of the motorway. The less stuff we have along there to distract drivers the better."

The Highways Agency raised the objection partly due to its £150 million scheme to convert the motorway hard shoulder to a fourth lane and install new gantries under the Birmingham Box Active Traffic Management project.

Steve George, agent for applicant JJ Gallagher, told the meeting the developer wanted to replace the sign, which sits on land next to IKEA and has the Gallagher logo, with a modern design.

Head of planning David Elsworthy said drivers should be following instructions on the over head gantries and not tempted to look at the posters. A Highways Agency report said the stretch of motorway was used by about 150,000 vehicles per day, which equates to a yearly total of 54.8 million vehicles and had a higher than average accident record.

At the other side of the motorway, a row over another set of signs is under way.

Walsall Football Club is under-fire over two large signs it has erected alongside the southbound carriageway. The council is looking into allegations it cut down trees to make way for the hoardings.

The council is threatening to take the football club to court, with further allegations that four of the trees had a preservation order slapped on them. If prosecuted, the club could face a fine of up to £20,000. The club denies any wrongdoing.